Minister of Transport; Mr. Rotimi Amaechi has ordered that further construction works at the Nigerian Maritime University in Okerenkoko in Delta State should be suspended for now.
The maritime university and the shipyard project are being spearheaded by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under the former Director General; Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi.
Amaechi stated this when he held a meeting with management staff of NIMASA as part of his familiarization tour of Lagos ports and maritime agencies on Monday.
He said that the ministry has ordered suspension of work on the university project and that all efforts would be concentrated on developing the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron, Akwa Ibom state to meet international standard.
Amaechi also said that he is currently studying the Cabotage Act in order to know the defects of the law, even as he promised to write a memo to President Muhammadu Buhari and the cabinet on how to work out implementation.
"On the issue of misplacement of priority, I have already addressed it, when they came to me about the University at Okerenkoko, I said they should hold on because we need to build the Oron school to the standard that we need in order to be able to compete with the global institutions"
"When we get there (MAN Oron) and there is not enough space for the students, then you can go ahead with Okerenkoko"
"We are not saying that the school will not go ahead but we want to place priority on Oron first to see what is doable, there is no money so we must be careful before taking on new projects" he said
Amaechi who is former Governor of Delta State equally explained that he had decided to tour the ports alongside his minister of State on Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika in order to study and to learn.
He said that the NIMASA boss, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro should be able to balance out the issue of promotions in the agency, according to him, he should be able to promote people because it is a stimulant that will make them work hard.
He said that the quota system in Nigeria should be followed whenever employment and promotion exercises are carried out
"He should also do more to address the imbalance in NIMASA in terms of management and in terms of staff, he must understand the fact that all of us are Nigerians" he said.
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